Head of Life Sciences, Underwriting, Middle Market

Zurich North America is seeking a Head of Life Sciences Leader for our U.S. Middle Market Business Unit. This role will be responsible for leading the Life Sciences practice with a focus on industry specialization and underwriting expertise. It is a critical role and this leader will utilize their expertise to deliver growth and profitability results and drive the performance of the Life Sciences industry segment at the national level. This role involves engaging with brokers and customers, gathering insights into market trends, industry practice performance, and promotes Middle Market propositions and solutions.

We are looking for a strong leader who will cultivate portfolio insights, develop the value proposition, and deliver the strategy. The responsibilities include handling referrals, developing underwriting guidelines, rating plans, and pricing for new and specialized products. This role will report to the Head of Industry Practice and work collaboratively with the Chief Operating Officer, Underwriting, and Sales & Distribution on the development and execution of our Life Sciences plans for the U.S. Middle Market.
 

This role will report to the Head of Industry Practice and we are open to the location.

Key Accountabilities: 

• Drives the strategy and performance of the Life Sciences industry practice to deliver growth and profitability results.
• Leads the strategic and operational planning process for growth targets and underwriting performance from the viewpoint of the specific industry segment.
• Oversees market execution by leveraging industry specialist underwriters in select industries and the broader U.S. Middle Market team of underwriters.
• Development of compelling value propositions and market leading products and services based on customer and broker needs in the specific industry practice.
• Developing solutions for issues and trends facing the industry practice and identifies opportunities for new products and services. 
• Engage with brokers and customers to gather insights and market trends, gather feedback on industry practice performance and promotes Zurich’s Middle Market value proposition and solutions.
• Coach, develop and provide leadership to underwriters within the Middle Market Business Unit. 

Basic Qualifications:  

• Bachelor’s Degree and 12 or more years of experience in the Risk Management or Underwriting or Broker or Carrier or Market Facing area within the Commercial Insurance industry
  AND
• 2 or more years of management experience

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Advanced and in-depth knowledge of Life Sciences business verticals
• Experience developing, driving and implementing business strategies for complex offerings
• Strong external relationship with brokers, agents, associations and insureds within the Life Sciences industry.
• Advanced and in-depth insurance technical knowledge and market trends
• Superior skills in relationship building, active listening and win-win negotiating 
• Experience navigating through a large organization to execute through influence
• Strong executive presence and the ability to interact with the C-Suite
• Ability to manage complex portfolios
• Strong managerial, team building, and organizational skills
• Strong presentation skills
• Ability to manage vision and purpose, lead the organization through innovative and creative thinking.
   

Compensation for roles at Zurich varies depending on a wide array of factors including but not limited to the specific office location, role, skill set, and level of experience. As required by local law, Zurich provides in good faith a reasonable range of compensation for roles. For additional information about our Total Rewards, click here. Other rewards may include short term incentive bonuses and merit increases. Candidates with salary expectations outside of the range are encouraged to apply,